Golf Handicap Calculator

Enter the USGA Course Rating, Course Slope, and your 18-hole gross score. You need to enter a minimum of five of your most recent scores, and a maximum of 20

When you are finished, click “compute handicap index at the bottom” and your index will be displayed below

Round #

USGA Course Rating

USGA Course Slope

18-hole score

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Handicap Index

What Does Your Handicap Mean?

Most golfers assume that your handicap (or index) is your average score. It’s really a measure of your potential playing ability. The point of the handicap as described by the USGA is to, “make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.” Long story short, it allows golfers of different playing abilities to compete against one another on a more level basis.

Your handicap index compares your scoring ability to that of a scratch golfer – a player who has an index of zero. The two primary components are the course rating and the slope rating. The course rating is a measure of difficulty calculated by the USGA. Essentially, it is what a scratch golfer would shoot under normal playing conditions. Slope rating is a measurement of the relative difficulty of the course for players who are not scratch golfers. Taking these two numbers, and your score allows you to calculate your index.

How to Calculate Your Course Handicap

A course handicap is the USGA’s measurement of the number of handicap strokes a player receives based on the course they are playing and the tee markers they choose.

The formula is as follows:

Course Handicap = Index x (Slope Rating of Tee on Course / 113)

For example, let’s say you had an index of 7.5 and playing a set of tees with a slope rating of 120. Your course handicap would round up to be an 8.

You can also use this tool from the USGA to calculate your course handicap automatically.

Want to Lower Your Golf Handicap?

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About the Author

Jon Sherman is the owner of Practical Golf, a website dedicated to being an honest resource for the everyday golfer who is looking to enjoy the game more, as well as improve. He is the author of the bestselling book 101 Mistakes All Golfers Make (and how to fix them). You can find him on Twitter here - @practicalgolf, where he is happy to chat about golf with anyone.